Wire rope socket



7 July 18,1944. G. c.s u| E 1 1 2,353,975 I WIRE ROPE SOCKET.

Filed Aug. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Shet l "T .[zzi azzibr-v' 6602398 6. Sonia,g 9 $044 I I 'July 18, 1944. I Q SQULE 2,353,975

WIRE ROPE SOCKET Filed Aug, 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WIRE ROPE SOCKET Filed Aug. 17, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet s 46 Inve22&z:

aeoz ge- C. Sonia, 65 36M, 9 Ska 1,. flfiowiaeys July '58, 1944.

ac. SOULE- I WI RE ROPE SOCKET Filed Aug. 17, 1942 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 YJuly 18, 1944. I G Q S UL 2,353,975

WIRE ROPE SOCKET Filed Aug. 17', 1942 5 Sheets- Sheet 5 Patented July18, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE ROPE SOCKET George C. 'Soule,South Portland, Maine Application August 17, 1942, Serial No. 455,061

4 Claims.

This invention relates to wire rope sockets and has for its main objectto produce a socket strong enough to stand the breaking strain of thewire rope without itself suffering breakage or distortion and to produceit by a new and different process which results in a saving in theweight of steel used, in the Weight of the finished product, and in thecost of producing it. A wire rope socket in accordance with my inventioncomprises a tubular portion sometimes designated a a basket having aninternally tapered opening therethrough for receiving the spelter coneat one end of a wire rope, and an anchorage-engaging means, sometimesdesignated as reins, extending from the opposed sides of the basket atthe end thereof having the larger internal diameter. Theanchorage-engaging means is so designed as to provide adjacent itsjunction with the tubular portion a pair of inwardly extendingprojections which function to maintain the spelter cone in the tubularportion. With either a closed or an open socket, the anchorage-engagingmeans or reins comprise a pair of spaced portions having alined eyes. Inthe case of an open socket, the inwardly-extending projections arefurnished by a pair of reinforcing plates fastened to the inner faces ofsaid spaced portions and provided with eyes registering with the eyes ofsaid spaced portions. In the case of an open socket, the inwardlyextending projections are furnished by th arms of a reinforcing plate ofU-shape disposed between and fastened to the inner faces of said spacedportions and substantially filling the pace therebetween, said armsbeing reduced and extended externally to overlap the juncture of theanchorage-engaging means with the tubular portion.

Prior to my invention the conventional method of making a wire ropesocket was to make a solid steel drop forging in the general exteriorshape of the finished article, and then by mechanical means to bore outfrom its interior a very large percentage of its weight in order to makeroom for the rope and the spelter cone which holds the rope in place.

The basis of my invention is the use of a pipe or tubing in which thecenter hole ha already been made by an extrusion process without wasteof steel, instead of using a solid bar which must first be drop-forgedto shape and then bored out with excessive waste of steel.

Part of the economy of my socket over the conventional drop-forgedsocket is due to the elimination of boring and consequent Waste ofsteel, and part of it is due to the fact that the ill entir shell can beprocessed on lighter and less expensive machinery than the solidforging.

Thi economy is increased by the selection of seamless pipe or tubingwhich is in standard quantity production and is as much a tonnage steelmill product as is a bar.

Sockets made in accordance with my invention may always be made lighteras a finished product than drop-forged sockets because the drop-forgingprocess distorts the design of the basket surrounding the spelter coneand requires it to be heavier than'is necessary to match the strength ofthe rope in order that its outside diameter may equal the outsidediameter of the forged reins.

In my invention the strength of the reins may be attained by pressingthem thin and tall or high, whereas a drop-forged rein of the same crosssectional area must be thickened and made lower in order to draw out ofthe die that produces it. 7

The result of this i that for a given internal diameter the basket of adrop-forged'sccket will have an external diameter greater to the extentof the increased thickness of the two reins'than on a socket inaccordance with my invention. This of course adds to the weight of theforged socket and makes it a basically heavier design than mine.

The diiference i a considerable onebecause the forged reins mustapproach the square in cross section, and have a 5 to 10 draft added oneach side to enable them tobe drawn out of the forging dies, while thereins of my socket need no draft and can be kept down to the thicknessof the tubing and any strength sacrificed by such thinness can becompensated for by increasing the height without increasing the diameterof the basket; Thus my basket need be only thick enough and heavy enoughto balance the strength of the rope while a forged basket must addthickness and weight beyond the strength of the rope in order to conformto a rein design necessitated by the forging process.

The principles of my invention are applicable to the production fromseamless or other tubing of both closed and open wire rope sockets. Witheither type of socket, the center reinforcing plate for the reins of theclosed socket or the side reinforcing plates for the reins of the opensocket are dimensioned to slightly overhang the spelter cone whichsupplements thespelter rings, if used, in retaining the cone in place,besides furnishing additional reinforcement for the socket.

Other advantages of my socket will appear as the description proceeds.

According to my invention I form my socket from a length of tubing,preferably a single length of seamless tubing. This is cut, opened andfiattened at one end to form the socket reins, and is drawn at its otherend to form the tapered socket basket, the rein and basket beingafterwards suitably reinforced.

The equipment for the practice of my invention is simple and compact indesign, is available at low cost, and may be operated by less skilledworkmen than those needed for the large, expensive, andnow-difiicult-to-obtain drop-forging equipment.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my preferred method ofmaking from seamless or other tubing both closed and open wire ropesockets. It will be understood, however, that various changes inprocedural steps may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofor sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

In such drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a closed wire rope socket in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a length of tubing from which suchsocket is fabricated.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a preferred first step in theformation of the socket reins, such step involving cutting the tubing atone end to enable the reins to be formed.

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating a preferred nextstep in the formation of the reins, such step involving opening thetubing along the cuts shown in Fig. 3 and laying back the reins by meansof the hydraulic press and forming tool shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tubing after it has been acted uponby the apparatus shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a preferred next step in theformation of the reins, such step involving flattening the splitrein-forming halves of the tubing of Fig. 5 into the shape depicted inFig. '1 by means of the hydraulic press shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. '7 shows the tubing after it has been acted upon by the apparatusof Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows the flattened reins of Fig. '7 being cut by a. cuttingtorch to produce the eyes depicted in Fig. 9, it being understood,however, that the cutting torch of Fig. 8 is also used to trim offexcess marginal metal from the reins.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the tubing after the cutting torch ofFig. 8 has trimmed the reins and formed the eyes therein.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a preferred next step in thepractice of my method, such step involving striking repeated blows onthe basket end of the tubing shown in Fig. 9 by means of a trip hammerto draw the basket to the tapered shape shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the step of preparing areinforcing plate for the socket, such plate being depicted in Fig. 12,and being afterwards assembled with the socket in the manner shown inFigs. 1, and 16.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the cut and beveled reinforcing platein readiness to be inserted between the reins of the socket and weldedto the drawn basket of the socket.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the step of finishing thesocket, such step involving the use of a drilling press equipped with areamer and a nosing tool which respectively ream the basket to size andround off the bottom edge of the basket.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of an open wire rope socket made from seamlesstubing in accordance with my method.

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal section of the closed socket shown in Fig. 1,particularly showing the welded-in spelter rings or projecting beadswhich engage the spelter cone and prevent it from slipping under strainin the socket.

Fig. 16 is a cross-section on the line l6l6 of Fig. 15.

Fig. 1'7 is a perspective view of the tubing from which the open socketof Fig. 14 is produced, said tubing having been cut at one end for theformation of the socket reins.

Fig. 18 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the next stepin the formation of the socket reins, such step involving opening thetubing along the cuts of Fig. 17 and flattening the reins by means ofthe hydraulic press and forming tool shown in Fig. 18.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the tubing after it has been acted uponby the apparatus shown in Fig. 18, and

Fig. 20 is a longitudinal section through the completed open socket.

Referring to Figs. 1, l5 and 16 wherein I have indicated generally at 20a closed wire rope socket made in accordance with my invention, thebasket or tubular portion of such socket is designated at 2| and theanchorage-engaging means 0: reins at 22. Reins 22 extend as a pair ofspaced portions from the opposite sides of the basket 2| at the endthereof having the larger internal diameter, and have alined eyes '22(see Fig. 9).

The basket is tapered to provide an internal socket 23 within which insome instances I may weld a plurality of spaced circumferentiallydisposed spelter rings or projecting beads 24. These engage the speltercone (not shown) which is poured around the wire rope to retain it inplace, and prevent the spelter cone from slipping under strain withinthe socket.

The basket and reins are reinforced by means of a reinforcing plate 26which is dimensioned to longitudinally straddle the basket andsubstantially fill the space separating the reins. The plate 26 ispreferably welded to the basket and reins, and is preferably of a lengthto overhang the spelter cone. Plate 26 is U-shaped (see Fig. 12) Itsclosed end defines an eye 26 registering with the eyes 22 of the reins22. Its arms 26 provide internal projection 26 which prevent the speltercone (not shown) in the basket 2| from being forced out of the adjacentend thereof by the stiffness of the rope when slack. Preferably sucharms are reduced and extended as at Mi to overlap the sides of thebasket externally thereof for a substantial distance (see Figs. 1 and15).

In producing my closed socket, I preferably start with a length ofseamless tubing 21 (see Fig. 2) which, in the case of a 2 socket, may beapproximately 19 /2" long, 6" in diameter, and weights approximately 86lbs.

I first cut one end of the tubing by means of a cutting torch or itsequivalent to produce the cuts 28, 29 and 30 shown in Fig. 3. The cuts28 are slots which begin at the upper end of the tubing at oppositesides thereof and terminate substantially half-way down the length ofthe tube in the holes 29. The cuts 30 define the lower ends of the eyesof the reins and assist the tubing to open laterally when the slittedend of the tubing is"acted= upon by the expanding tool of Fig. 4 to layback the reins. I

In this operation, the tubing after being heated to the-desired heat, ispreferably subjected to the action of a forming tool 3| in a hydraulicpress 3'2 which opens the slots 28 and expands the partiallysplit halvesof the tubing to the-shape depicted in Fig. *5. During this operation,the lowerend of the tubing is centered on the centering plug 33-01 thepress, stops 34 being provided near the upper end of the present guideto prevent the tubing from lifting out of the press when the'tool 3i israised.

The partly-formed tubing of Fig. 51s next reheated tothe desired heat.held between the dies 35 of a hydraulic press-36 ('see Fig. 6) and thereins flattened into the shape depicted in Fig. 7, The press 36 hasthree superimposed dies, of which the top die is movable, the bottom dieis stationary, and the center die is held loosely to the top die andacts as a spacer or anvil between thereins. Obviously, however, thereins may be flattened by other methods and by other apparatus.

The flattened reins. are next trimmed of any excess marginal metal andthe eyes 22 formed therein. A preferred method of forming the eyes isdepicted in Fig. 8 wherein a cutting torch 37 is shown at work.

In the interest of avoiding duplication of illustration, the trimmingoperation has not been illustrated, but it will be understood that inactual practice the torch may be first used to trim off excess marginalmetal from the reins and then to cut the eyes. Preferably, the cuttingtorch which performs the trimming and eyecutting operations istemplate-controlled.

The trimmed tubing with eyes formed in the socket reins is depicted inFig. 9 in readiness for the formation of the socket basket. A preferredmethod of forming the socket basket is illustrated in Fig. 10 whereinthe tubing, after having been again heated to the desired heat, is shownas being held as at 38 under a trip hammer 39 and subjected to repeatedblows to draw the basket to the tapered shape illustrated in Fig. 1.

The socket is now ready to receive the reinforcing plate 23. In thisstep, I cut a reinforcing plate 26 of suitable dimension and weight froma block 40. Preferably, such plate is out by means of a cutting torchsuch as indicated at 4| in Fig. 11. The torch may betemplate-controlled, if desired, or the plate may be hand-turned or diecut.

The finished plate 26, after beveling, is depicted in Fig. 12. In thiscondition, it is ready to be inserted between the reins and welded orotherwise fastened thereto and to the basket. (See Figs. 1, and 16).

After the reinforcing plate 26 has been welded in place, the basket maybe reamed to size and rounded at its bottom edge. I prefer to do this bymeans of the reamer 42 and nosing tool 43 of drilling press 44 shown inFig. 13, although obviously it may be done by other methods and by otherapparatus.

This completes the operation except for stressrelieving or galvanizingwhere required.

Depending on the ultimate use of the socket, it may or may not bedesirable to provide the basket with the internal welded-in spelterrings or projecting beads 24 shown in Figs. 1, 15 and 16.

The open socket detailed in Figs. 14 and 20 includes a basket 2|, reins22, tapered internal socket 223', spelterrings 24, if desired, and apair method and With-the apparatus of Fig. 18, a1;-

though it may obviously be performed by other methods and with otherequipment. In this operation,- the tubing of Fig. 17 is heated to therequired temperature and then subjected to the action of a forming-tool3| in a hydraulic press 32"to thereby open the slots 28' and expand thesplit halves of the tubing to the flattened shape depicted in Fig. 19.During this operation, the lower end of the tubing-is centered on thecenter'- ing plug 33'. y

The forming tool is raised and lowered by any suitable means'fnot shown)and the side walls of the press are pivoted at their-lower ends at 47 tothe base of the press and are urged inwardly towards each other attheproper time by means of hydraulic rams 48 or the like.

When the reins have been flattened to the shape I depicted'in Fig. 19 bythe apparatus of Fig. 18; they are trimmed in any suitable manner andthe pin-receiving eyes or holes 49 cut therein, after whichthe tubing isreheated to the proper temperature and the basket drawn.

In order to avoid duplication of illustration, this step has not beendepicted, but it will be understood that it may be accomplished by meansof a trip hammer such as shown at 36 in Fig. 6.

The socket is now ready to receive the reinforcing plates 46. These areduplicates, and may be cut or cast in any suitable manner. Plates 46 areprovided with eyes or holes registering with the pin-receiving holes 49of the reins. These plates follow generally the inside contour of thereins until the reins meet the basket 2 I, and extend internally intothe basket as indicated at 46 in Fig. 14 a distance suflicient tooverhang the spelter cone. They are attached to the reins and basket inany suitable manner, as by welding, and they perform the double functionof supplementing the strength of the tubing wall and reins and offurnishing increased bearing for the conventional socket pin at the eyesor holes 49.

My 2%" open and closed sockets have been. tested with the followingresults:

One of my 2%" open sockets was attached to one end of a 2%" 6 x 37 BlueCenter Steel Rope with independent Wire rope center, to the other end ofwhich a standard test socket was attached. This was placed in a2,000,000 pound Riehle testing machine, taken to a load of 317,000 lbs.,and held for one hour under this stress. No weaknesses in the socketingor the socket developed.

nor was there any evidence of distress in the socket after this test.The rope was finally broken at an ultimate strength of 424,700 pounds.but even at such load my dence of distress.

One of my 2%" closed sockets was attached to one end of a 2%" 6 x 37Blue Center Steel Rope with independent end of which a standard testsocket was attached. This was placed in the 2,000,000 Riehle testingmachine and the rope was tested to destruction developing a strength of433,900 pounds. There Was no evidence of distress in the socket afterthis test. Another of my sockets of quite similar design had beenpreviously stressed at 317,000 lbs.

socket showed no eviwire rope center, to the other and held for 1 /2hours without developing or showing any sign of distress. Such testswere ample to have developed any weaknesses inmy socket. r v

I do not claim the spelter rings 24 as this concept is the invention ofJohn B. Woodbury and is the subject of a separate application for patentfiled Aug. 26, 1942, Serial No. 456,186 which has matured into PatentNo. 2,347,229 granted April 25, 1944. 7 While I have disclosed mypreferred methods for producing both the open and the closed sockets, itis .to be understood that both the procedural steps and the equipmentfor carrying them out may be varied considerably without departing fromthe scope of my invention. Similarly. the sockets themselves aresusceptible of various changes in form, proportion, size, and minordetails of construction. All such changes are to be considered as withinthe purview of my invention, if within the limits of the appendedclaims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: V

1. A wire rope socket, comprising a tubular portion having an internallytapered opening therethrough for receiving the spelter cone at one endof a wire rope, said tubular portion having an anchorage-engaging meansextending from opposite sides of the tubular portion at the end thereofhaving the larger internal diameter, said anchoraacacvc age-engagingmeans having adjacent its junction with the tubular portion inwardlyextending projections for maintaining the spelter cone in the tubularportion.

2. The socket of claim 1, in which said anchorage-engaging meanscomprises a pair of spaced portions having alined eyes, and saidinwardly extending projections are established by a pair ofreinforcements fastened to the inner faces of said spaced portions andprovided with eyes registering with the eyes of said spaced portions.

3. The socket of claim 1, in which said anchorage-engaging meanscomprises a pair of spaced portions having alined eyes, and saidinwardly extending projections are established by the arms of aU-shaped. member disposed between and fastened to the inner faces ofsaid spaced portions and substantially filling the space therebetween.

4. The socket of claim 1 in which said anchorage-engaging meanscomprises a pair of spaced portions having alined eyes, and saidinwardly extending projections are established by the arms of a U-shapedmember disposed between and fastened to the inner faces of said spacedportions and substantially filling the space therebetween, said armsbeyond said inwardly-extending projections being reduced and extended toexternally overlap the juncture of the anchorage-engaging means with thetubular portion.

GEORGE C. SOULE.

